Manchester City boss Mancini could not manage Leeds, claims Warnock

By Stuart Watson

The former QPR coach believes the Italian and the likes of Jose Mourinho need financial backing, and would struggle to succeed outside of the top flight of English football

Leeds United manager Neil Warnock has stoked the fire ahead of Sunday's FA Cup fifth round clash with Manchester City by claiming Roberto Mancini would not be able to coach in the lower leagues of English football.

The former Sheffield United and QPR boss is looking to get one over on Mancini, whose City will now regard the FA Cup as their most realistic chance of silverware this season.

And the 64-year-old does not think the Italian, or the likes of Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, could cope outside of the very top tier.

"People like Roberto, and I’m not being disrespectful, they need financial support like they’ve got at City," Warnock told reporters.

"It’s like Jose Mourinho and all that calibre of manager. I don’t think they could manage at Leeds in the current climate, or manage anywhere else other than the top of the top level. That’s the way they are. This is as tough a job as I’ve ever had.

"I don’t think I’d be able to cope with Roberto’s job at City. I only had six months in the Premier League at QPR with the current crop of top-flight players last season, and I didn’t enjoy that at all.

"I don’t envy Roberto in his job, dealing with 11 or 12 world class players who can’t even get in the side, yet think they should be. I wouldn’t enjoy it at all."

Leeds are looking to book their place in the last eight of the FA Cup against a Manchester City side who have been in indifferent form of late, slipping 12 points behind neighbours Manchester United in the Premier League table.

But Warnock believes that, even if the under-pressure Italian were to be sacked at the Etihad, he would not be short of offers from elsewhere.

"In a job like Roberto’s, and with a manager like him, the pressure comes from within," Warnock added, "It’s like myself at a different level, but it’s not as if he’ll be short of other job offers, or short of a bob or two."